Philippe F. FrugèreCristal Group has appointed Mr Philippe F. Frugere as the General Manger for Bayat Hotel by Cristal that is Abha’s first 5-star property and will be ready for opening in June 2017. The Abha region in Saudi Arabia was recently named the capital of Arab Tourism 2017. With over four decades of outstanding experience in the hospitality industry, Mr Frugere is a seasoned hotelier having an in-depth knowledge of all aspects of the business. Making the announcement, Mr Kamal Fakhoury, CEO of Cristal Group, stated, “Bayat Hotel by Cristal is a fabulous property and we are delighted to welcome Mr Frugere to lead the team there. His expertise and experience will prove invaluable in positioning the hotel as a first choice for travelers in Abha.”Mr Frugere’s first posting as General Manager was in Corsica in 1998 at the 4-star Campo Dell’Oro Hotel. He then moved to Les Dromonts Hotel & Alpe Hotel Club in France. In 2010, he took his first steps into the Middle East as Group General Manager of Al Nahda Hotel in Oman where he stayed until 2013. Subsequently he worked as General Manager for a year at Olhuveli Beach & Spa Resorts in Maldives and later at Waterfront City Hotel & Casino in the Philippines. Mr Frugere is winner of many awards and recognitions. He was honored with the ‘Best General Manager (Upscale Segment) Award’ by Worldwide Hospitality Awards while he was posted at Sun Hotels & Resorts Maldives.